Years of classical training and a life-long devotion to honing his craft have left Andrew Bird well equipped for his eighth studio album Noble Beast, and the creation of a truly unique sound.
Bird鈥檚 ubiquitous whistling, 鈥減robably the most honest way I can make a sound,鈥 is interspersed by moments on the violin, flute and glockenspiel. This latest album continues to consolidate years of hard work on the touring and recording circuit. 鈥淚鈥檝e been touring since I was 22 years old. I鈥檓 so used to struggling that I don鈥檛 know how not to. Now, it鈥檚 a different kind of struggling, just trying to keep it together. You鈥檝e been working really hard for years and you don鈥檛 want to blow it. I got here from working my ass off, so it is very gratifying.鈥
Through his use of an eclectic array of instruments, and the solo creation of a huge sound, Bird has carefully carved a niche for himself over the years, and talking through the process of musical creation, he is very much a one-man band. 鈥淭hrough the looping of different instruments, I鈥檒l do a skeleton of the song and then I鈥檒l layer on top of that strings. Then I鈥檒l put the guitar in, and then I鈥檒l manipulate the violin to sound more percussive and loop handclaps and whistles to create very different sounds by myself.鈥 As such, Bird鈥檚 earlier releases have showcased a variety that few artists can match and in November, Bird wowed domestic audiences with an ethereal gig at St Giles Church, London, a venue, which had a significant effect on the singer-songwriter 鈥 鈥渋t is the perfect venue, because I鈥檓 creating layers and tapestries, and it鈥檚 cool to come into a space that鈥檚 unique and old like that, and think about how you鈥檙e going to fill every corner of that with sound.鈥
Noble Beast marks a return to form for Bird with his naturalistic recording style coming to the fore: 鈥淭his last record is pretty loose and on the fly the way it was put together, we started with the vocals first, which is the opposite of how most bands record, but we just went for a big country vocal sound and worried about drums and everything later.鈥 The album鈥檚 stand-out track is the opening, Oh No, not least for its referencing to the in-flight wailing of a young child, an unusual snippet of inspiration, which alerted Bird to the dishonesty of our adult restraint in difficult situations: 鈥淚 was struck by the mournful, musical descending line of this child, and I was pondering that it鈥檇 be nice to let your emotions fly like that. We鈥檙e all feeling that way.鈥
In this manner, Bird carefully balances the more sinister aspects of his personality with a superficial uplifting nature. 鈥淭he lyrics are true to a certain self-consciousness. When I鈥檓 thinking something and it鈥檚 a bit darker, I鈥檒l take it a couple of steps further to the point where I鈥檓 making fun of myself. I鈥檓 always playing with melancholy, it鈥檚 happy sad; I think the best music has a mix of that. Even if I鈥檓 talking about the impending apocalypse, it鈥檚 going to be great, we鈥檙e going to have snacks.鈥
Noble Beast is out now. For further details please visit:
Pauline Bache
